Bottle cap remover



Nam 3, 1. 936 J N K 2,059,736

BOTTLE CAP REMOVER Filed Jan. 18, 1936 W HTTEFEE'Y Patented Nov. 3, 1936' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for removing the cap from bottles of the type where the contents of the bottle are not generally consumed at one time and it is intended to reuse the cap.

5 Such bottles and caps are used in the canning and preserving of foodstuffs, and for bottling preserves, jellies, and the like, by way of example.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a simple and economical tool, for

domestic use, whereby the cap or cover of a bottle of the type here contemplated may be removed in a simple manner, without undue mutilation, or distortion, of the cap. As a result, the cap may be replaced upon the bottle to produce a sealed closure almost as effective as the original factory application of the cap.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tool of the above character whereby a bottle cap may be removed by a single opera-.

tion and without requiring the application of an undue amount of force.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a bottle cap remover, and illustrating the manner of. use of the same;

Figure 2 is a top view thereof; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the jaw portions of the bottle cap remover.

Referning now more particularly to the drawing. The bottle cap remover comprises a tool indicated at l and having two pivotally connected members or levers 2-2 of similar construction. Each lever is provided, intermediate at its ends, with a pair of projecting ears 3. The

pair of ears on one of the levers fits snugly between the pair of ears on the other lever, and the two levers are held together by a pivot pin or fulcrum 4 that passes through the two pairs of cars. The portion of. the levers at one side of the pivot 4, indicated at 5, comprises a handle portion, whereas the portion on the other side of the pivot, indicated at 6, comprises a jaw portion. The jaw portions are flat on their under side, as indicated at I, so that the forward ends of the two jaws may be brought into abutting engagement. A spring 8 is curled around the pivot 4 and urges the members 2 about the pivot in such a direction as to bring the jaw portions together, and the handle portions apart, as indicated in 56 Figure 1.

The forward end of each jaw portion is rounded, as indicated at l0, so that it may fit partially around the periphery of a bottle. Adjacent the forward end of the jaw portion there is provided a slight bead I I for strengthening the outer 6 forward end of the jaw portion. Somewhat back of the bead, closer to the pivot l, is another bead l2, also for strengthening the jaw portion. The distance between the beads ll-II on the two jaw portions, when the jaw portions are in their 10 normal engaging position, is small so that the forward end or the tool may fit into the small space between the cap of a bottle and a slight shoulder provided on the bottle. This is illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. In Figures 1 and 3 there is shown, at IS, a section through the top portion of a standard part of a bottle. The top of the bottle is provided with a rounded outwardly extending protuberance i6, and an inwardly indented peripherally extending projection l'I forming-a peripherally extending ledge iii. A bottle cap H is tightly pressed over the protuberance 16, said cap being provided with a peripherally extending rim of rubber 20 on its inner side adjacent the bottom thereof. The lower end of the cap is then spun inwardly, as indicated at 2|. The cap, together with the rubber 20, forms a sealing closure for the open end of a bottle. The forward ends of the jaws can fit into the space between the shoulder i8 and the bottom of the cap 2|. When the handle portions 5 of the tool are drawn together the jaw portions are spread apart, thus prying the cap from the bottle. Because the forward ends of the jaw portions are curved, and extend around an appreciable portion of the periphery of the bottle, it is apparent that the force applied by the jaws to pry the cap from the bottle is distributed over a considerable portion of the periphery of the cap and thus prevents any, or an appreciable, distortion of the cap. If the cap is reused it will still make substantially a sealing fit with the bottle. It is also to be noted that, because of the extent to which the jaws encompass the bottle, a single operation of the jaws along the periphery of the bottle is sufficient to remove the cap.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have here shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction here shown, the same being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. What I consider new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bottle cap remover comprising a pair 0! pivotally connected members each including a Jaw portion and a handle portion, spring means urging the jaw portions toward one another and the handle portions apart, said Jaw portions being spread apart by forcing the handle portions toward one another, said Jaw portions being comparatively thin in the direction of their spreading movement whereby the two jaws may enter into the space between a shoulder on a bottle and a sealing cap thereon and then be spread apart for prying the cap from the bottle, the jaw portions being comparatively wide band rounded at their forward end to fit around a substantial portion of the periphery of a bottle whereby the force applied to the cap by the jaw portions for prying the cap from the bottle is so distributed as to prevent undue concentration of force and appreciable mutilation of the cap.

2. A bottle cap remover including a pair of jaw portions and means for spreading the Jaw portions apart, said jaw portions being comparatlvely thin in the direction of their spreading movement whereby the two jaws may enter into the space between a shoulder on a bottle and a sealing cap thereon and then be spread apart for prying the cap from the bottle, the jaw portions being comparatively wide and rounded at their forward end to fit around a substantial portion 01' the periphery of a bottle whereby the force applied to the cap by the jaw portions for prying the cap from the bottle is so distributed as to prevent undue concentration of force and appreciable mutilation oi the cap.

JOSEPH A. MANARIK. 

